Catch for latch-bolts



(No Mr del.)

- HENRY,

GATGH FOR LATGH BOLTS.

No. 265,924. Patented Oct. 10,1882;

WITNESSES. v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN M. HENRY, OF LADOGA, INDIANA.

CATCH FOR LATCH-BOLTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 265,924, dated October10, 1882.

Application filed July 31, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARTIN M. HENRY, of thetown of Ladoga, county of Montgomery, and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Catches for Latch-Bolts,of which the following is a specification.

My said invention consists in certain improvements in the constructionand arrangement of parts of that class of latches the bolts of which areretained within the casing by a springcatch until the door is shut, whensaid catch is disengaged by the contact of a projection thereon with thelock-strike or doorcasing, which permits the latch-bolt to fly forwardand latch the door.

I am aware that the above-specified general result has been beforeaccomplished in a variety of ways, and I therefore do not desire to beunderstood as claiming any device or combination, except such as arehereinafter par ticularly described and claimed as new.

The results which particularly distinguish my device from those whichhave preceded it are as follows: It is reversible, and is therebyadapted to be used with any kind of lock, and can be reversed when thelatch-bolt is reversed. It has a certain and welldefined movement, whichis limited by a stop that is so adjusted as to perform its properfunction when the lock is in either position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figurel is a plan view of a lock the latch-bolt and catch of which areconstructed in accordance with my invention, the top plate of the lockbeing partially broken away to show said parts. Fig. 2 is a similar viewwhen the latch-bolt is held back by the catch. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view on the dotted line 00 w, and Fig. 4: is a front endelevation of the lock.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the lock-casing, B thelatch'bolt, and O the spring-catch.

The casing A is or may be of any usual or approved form. It has twobosses, at a, be-

tween which the spring-catch O is secured by means of a screw, a, whichis also the means whereby the two sides of the lock are held together.The latch-bolt B also is or may be of a common form, but is providedwith a cross bar which forms projections b thereon, with which thecatch-spring engages. This crossbar is preferably a short piece of steelwire passing through the shank of the latch-bolt, and having its endssquared to engage with the catch portions of the spring.

The catch-spring G is secured to the boss at on the lock-case by thescrew a. It is provided with catch-ears 0 0 a turned-up end, a", whichwill come in contact with the lockstrike or door-casing when the door isshut, and a stud, c, which acts as a stop and prevents said spring frompassing to the wrong side of the bar I). This catch-spring may besecured to a separate boss byaseparate screw, if desired, instead of inthe manner shown.

The operation of my said invention is as follows: WVhen the bolt B isdrawniuto the look, as by turning the door-knob in opening the door, thespring-catch O springs down until its wing c or c catches behind the barb, which holds said bolt back, as shown in Fig. 2, until the door isshut, when the end 0 comes in contact with the lock-strike ordoor-casing, lifting it until the barb will pass under it,thuspermitting the bolt to fly out and engage with the catch or strike onthe door-casing. As will be seen, the stud c prevents the spring frompassing below and getting beneath the bar b. The ears 0 0 are as long asthe stroke of the latch-bolt, so that the cross-bar b shall not becaught by the front thereof, and thus prevent the bolt from being forcedback when it is desired to unlatch the door.

When it is desired to reverse the lock the latch-bolt is taken out andturned over in the ordinary manner. The screw a is also removed,thespring 0 turned over, and the said screw replaced. As the cross-bar bextends equally on both sides, and the spring 0 is provided with asecond ear, 0, which will engage therewith, the device works as wellwhen reversed as when in its normal position. The

stud also performs its office as well on one side as on the other.

Having thus fully described mysaid invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination, in a lock,of the latchbolt B, provided with the cross-bar b, and the bosses a aand the screw a, substantially as [O catch-spring G, provided with thecatch-ears shown and specified. c 0 and the stud 0 substantially asshown In witness whereof I have hereunto set my and described, and forthe purposes specified. hand and seal, at La'doga, lndiana, this 21st 52. The combination, with the latch-bolt of a day of July, A. D. 1882.

look and the catch-spring therefor, said bolt MARTIN M. HENRY. [1,. 8.1and spring being provided with suitable en- Witnesses:

gaging devices, of a means for securing said B. F. WILLIAMs,

spring to the lock-casing, consisting of the two J. '1. MGGINNIS.

